The Z-Pro Tango 2 Person Inflatable Kayak Review
We’ve always enjoyed every aspect of making an adventure of our trips to various wild places. It is the being outdoors bit that we love so much; whether it is walking or running on the fell tops, swimming the lakes or kayaking the rivers – it keeps us fresh and feeling alive, with smiles on our faces.
Expanding the range of products we offer to our customers to include the clothing and equipment we use ourselves, seems like a natural thing to do.
Why an Inflatable Kayak?
Being based in the Lake District we have a lot of water to play with – it defines the whole geography of the area.
Canoeing and kayaking has been part of our lives for over 30 years now and we’ve got a large collection of boats rammed in the back yard at Head to the Hills! However, what we really wanted was something with the performance of a kayak but with the stability and convenience of an inflatable.
It had to be “Boot (our black Lab) Proof” and fun to use on rivers, lakes and safe to use in the surf with enough space for 2 people, a dog and equipment. The weight and durability of the kayak were also of concern; it needed to be genuinely portable and able to withstand lots of abuse (we’ve trashed too many cheap inflatable’s to buy another and stake our reputation on it!).
  
After a lot of research into what was available on the inflatable kayak and canoe market, we decided that the new range of Z pro inflatable kayaks offered the best specification at a very reasonable price. The design also seemed to combine the best features of a sit on top kayak with an open canoe whilst maintaining the performance characteristics we wanted.
The usual excitement followed the first delivery of the Z-pro Tango 2 person inflatable kayak and we wasted no time in testing it during a summer of mixed weather – lots of sun and low water levels, with the odd flash flood thrown in for fun.
The Inflatable Kayaks maiden voyage
Ian (our Summer Lad) came up with a plan to get the bus to Grasmere and paddle down the river Rothay, via Grasmere and Rydal Waters to Windermere where we could hike back to the shop.
So alarms were set for a dawn patrol and off we went…
 
The Tango kayak just fitted into my 60L rucksack with some tactical folding, and the kayak paddles, hammer pump and dry-bags were stashed in an OMM daysack. At 15kgs (33lbs) the Tango kayak is not what you would call ultra-light, but it was perfectly manageable and is still the lightest weight, serious inflatable kayak available.
The bus trip to Grasmere went to plan and we had the Tango kayak pumped up and ready to go in under 5 minutes (we timed it) on arrival. Impressed so far, the kayak was hoiked into the lake and we were afloat at last and the paddling began!
The stability was excellent (we had to stand up to get in from a steep wall) and I was surprised how well the Tango kayak tracked on the flat. I’d left the detachable skeg off so it didn’t hinder progress on the shallow river but the directional strake and hull shape kept us tracking in a straight line much better that expected.
The real test was to be the next two river sections due to the low water levels we were likely to run out of river!. We managed to run the first few rapids with only a few bumps and scrapes but then we had to roll-up our sleeves and haul the boat for a while!
 
The river entry into Rydal Water was a relief and a temporary end to kayak hauling and we crossed over into lily beds and a fleeing pike visible in the clear water. Then on and across to continue down the Rothay through the lovely glen that runs under Loughrigg fell.
We made it home in good time after running the river, sometimes quite literally, down to Windermere - just a few scuffs on the bottom to show for an hour of bump and grind!
The final test was the time taken to pack the 2 person inflatable kayak away and pack it back to Head to the Hills base camp in Ambleside.
There is nothing worse than spending half an hour squeezing air out of tiny inflation valves so it was a relief to simply open up the high pressure valves and watch an instant deflation. Roll it up and pop it in the rucksack and the job was done. 10 minutes later we were warming up with tea and toast before the first customers arrived at the shop.
We’d had a great start to the day and we're very happy with our choice of inflatable kayak.
After numerous canoe/kayak trips since, the Tango has become our most used boat because it is just so easy to take along on a day out. I don’t need to put the roof-rack on, it’s a very manageable weight when inflated, and when we are all aboard, dog and all, it is stable enough for everyone to relax and enjoy the trip. I always get asked a lot about this kayak in the shop, so I’ve noted down a list of pro’s and con’s that have become apparent during our use of the Tango below.
Pro’s
1. Very tough construction thanks to the 1000 denier fabric construction. Great for moderate white-water and surf.
2. Small pack size.
3. Lightweight when compared to standard kayaks and inflatables.
4. Exceptional value for money when compared to standard canoes and kayaks.
5. No need to transport on a roof-rack.
6. Inflates and deflates very quickly when using a two way pump thanks to the high pressure H3 Valves (these are removable, replaceable and completely airtight).
7. Very comfortable seating position with plenty of room for two.
8. Very stable and tracks well even without the skeg thanks to the “V” shaped hull and directional strake.
Con’s
Thank fully there's not many downsides to having fun
1. With 2 people and the dog more space would be more convenient for overnight trips requiring more gear to be carried. Larger version coming soon!
2. The Velcro paddle loops by the side of the kayak could be larger. Thankfully there are plenty of strong “D” rings so that you can rig your own paddle leashes.
The Z-Pro Tango 2 person inflatable kayak really stands out among it’s competitors. We have already had so much fun on it I would recommend the Tango to anyone – just buy one now and start having fun! You won’t regret it.
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